"008 (B018) - The Sargasso Ogre (1933-10) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"Vamose!"



With a meekness that belied his profession, Pasha Bey eased out of the gloomy tunnel. He was pondering if, upon his return, he might not be able to slip his silken strangling cord through those bars and around the neck of the man who had hired him. The fellow might have more of those big bills. It was good, this American money.





NOT very many minutes later, Pasha Bey appeared in the lobby of the Hotel Londoner. This hostelry was one of the swankiest in Alexandria, and it catered largely to English speaking foreigners.



The lobby held the usual quota of guests and loafers. Some of the latter were Pasha Bey's associates, members of the particular murderer's guild of which he was dictator.



In the United States, Pasha Bey would have been called the big shot of a mob; in Egypt, he was the head of a guild.



He sauntered over and joined one of his men.



"You have a word for me?" he questioned.



"The man -- Long Tom Roberts -- is in his room," advised the other. "But he has company. From the hallway, I listened and heard voices."



"How many voices?"



"Long Tom Roberts's and one other."



"A visitor, by Allah!" Pasha Bey folded his arms while he thought. His bony face was benevolent. He looked like a harmless old man in need of a square meal.



"I will go up and pray that my ears may tell me the visitor has gone," he said at last, and shuffled for the stairs.